Hello future friend,

My name is Baker, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the newest Justice Facility Dog at Child Witness Centre (CWC)! Now before we get started, there’s something important you should know… I have some very big paw-prints to fill.

You may already know the legendary Monet – CWC’s very first facility dog and an all-around superstar in the Region of Waterloo’s criminal justice system. For the past five years, Monet has helped brave children and youth navigate some of the hardest moments of their lives, offering comfort, courage, and unconditional support when it was needed most. But after years of dedicated service (and countless tail wags), Monet will officially retire this year. The good news? She’s not leaving me to figure this whole thing out on my own. For a little while, Monet and I will overlap so she can show me the ropes before officially hanging her vest.

My amazing handler, Marisa, says I arrived very well-trained and ready for the job. After all, I’m already almost 4 years old, which in dog years basically makes me a seasoned professional. But there are some things only Monet can teach me – the special CWC way of helping children feel safe, calm, and cared for. I’ve also been told I have a bit of a reputation already… I’m a major cuddler. I specialize in leaning in close, offering quiet comfort, and reminding people they don’t have to face hard moments alone. If there were an Olympic event for snuggles, I’d probably bring home the gold medal.

So, What Exactly Do I Do?

Sometimes children feel scared, overwhelmed, or unsure of what comes next. That’s where I come in. When words feel hard, I offer quiet comfort. When emotions feel overwhelming, I bring calm. Whether it’s during meetings, police or court preparation, difficult conversations, or simply sitting beside someone who needs support, my job is to remind children and youth that they are safe, supported, and never alone. And while the humans handle the paperwork and big conversations, I specialize in emotional support, expert-level cuddles, and tail wags.

A Little About My Journey

I was proudly trained and supplied to CWC by National Service Dogs, an accredited assistance dog school based close by in Cambridge, Ontario. I completed specialized training to become a Justice Facility Dog, meaning I’m specially prepared to support people in professional settings, especially the really hard ones.

Why I’m Reaching Out

While I was generously shared with Child Witness Centre, there are ongoing costs to keep me healthy, happy, and ready for action, including:
🐾 Food and treats (very important)
🐾 Vet care and medications
🐾 Grooming and pawdicures
🐾 Transportation to appointments and court
🐾 Equipment, enrichment toys, tennis balls, and stuffies

My annual care costs are approximately $8,000, and unfortunately, there isn’t any government funding for my role. The government funders consider me a ‘value add’ for kids who need it. That’s why I’m reaching out with a hopeful paw to ask for your sponsorship. You’ll also be helping launch the next generation of comfort and healing at CWC as I step into Monet’s very important paw-prints.

In return:
🐾 I’ll proudly wear your logo or name on my vest while I work
🐾 You’ll receive a special photo opportunity with me (I’m told I’m very photogenic)
🐾 We’ll celebrate and share the impact of your support with our community

If you’d like to sniff out more details, please reach out to Robin Heald, Executive Director at CWC, at robin.heald@childwitness.com.

Thank you for considering joining me on this exciting new chapter. Monet says every great facility dog needs a caring community behind them and I sure hope you’ll be part of mine.

With wagging tail and grateful paws,
Baker | Justice Facility Dog & Professional Cuddler

P.S. A sponsorship of $8,000 would be tail-wagging, cuddle-worthy, zoomie-level exciting! (That’s dog language for “thank you from the bottom of my furry heart.”)